Eastern Bay Questions

[muldoon]

3-3.5 mph for rockfish usually works well for me with standard lures like bucktails, and tony 15s or 17s.

[ictalurus]

The two times I hooked up, it seemed there were only 1 or 2 fish jumping in my area. Other times, I've seen multiple fish jumping in the same area at the same time, but it wasn't an organized blitz. I didn't even get hits then when casting. Some of the guys on tidalfish have found them mixed in with breaking blues and stripers, but I haven't been that lucky. I usually try casting and retrieving super fast when I find breakers just in case the macks are mixed in, but I haven't found that many breakers the past two years. I never hooked one trolling despite all the time I've spent trolling spoons over the years at the mouth of the Patuxent, PLO, or by St. Jerome's Creek. I would even try sprinting for as long as I could maintain it if I thought they were in the area. I usually use #13 or 15 Tonys when blues are around, which might be a bit big given that the trollers use 0 and 00 Clark spoons. Then again, Gotchas work, so who knows?

Kimbro found them mixed with breakers:
http://www.chesapeakelighttackle.com...aking-spanish/

I've seen them most often between Drum Point and Cove Point, but that was the area I fished most often, too. Finding clear water seems to be key from what I've read. Anyway, they're easy to id when they jump, so I always keep an eye out when traveling to my fishing area and keep something shiny ready to cast.

Bass Pro makes some spinning reels that retrieve over 40" per turn. Your trip might be a good excuse to pick up one or two of those.

[kevinfry]

I think kastmasters and Krocadiles give the good balance of cast-ability, weight and ability to handle a very very fast retreive. I have caught lots of big mackerel on Krocadiles, though granted I was under power. They cast like a bullet.
I wonder if having a spoon or gotcha rigged on a separate pole while fishing for whatever else might be better than prowling around looking for breakers. I do this down by Pt. Lookout. I fish the bottom but if the breakers (mostly bluefish) race through, I pick up the other and let 'er Rip. On one of my ill-fated flounder (i.e. 6"-9" fish) trips I bet I caught 6 bluefish from schools that moved through over the course of the day.

As for a paddle and camp trip, the ladies and I just paddled down along Lower Hooper's Island, which is deserted. We had a great day. Netted crabs wading the shallows, caught croakers from the beach, trolled for and caught schoolie rockfish in the "thoroughfare" channel. I have read no where that you could not camp on the island (don't ask don't tell). It is also in reach of some other small islands if you have a good 'yak. Barren Island is on the bay side of upper Hooper's, it is supposed to have good birding and nesting swans. Wroton Island is pretty marshy and is on the far side of Honga river East of Middle Hooper's.

I hear there are lots of mosquitoes at night. I have attached pics from our day there...my daughter with the minnow net.

[kevinfry]

We also were able to swim...no sea nettles!

[kanvery]

kevinfry, sent you a PM w/ questions about Lower Hoopers Island

[J.A. Veil]

I have made the trip all the way around Kent Island numerous times, but always in a power boat. The trip is at least 40 miles, and will be farther if you detour or zig-zag to fish. The section from Love Pt to the Narrows should be reasonably sheltered if you stick near shore, Likewise the first few miles south of the Narrows. However, the main Ches Bay side and the long run through Eastern Bay can get rough real fast.

I remember running from the South River to a party in a creek on the south edge of Kent Island one Sat afternoon in my 23' Parker (a heavy solid boat). The weather was calm on the way there. However, by the time we headed home, the waves had built to steady 2-3 footers coming directly in my face as we headed back across Eastern Bay. It was a long, wet, and bouncy ride.

Please think twice about trying such a long paddle in a single day -- even if it is flat calm the entire time, you will be exhausted by the end of the day and may not use your full judgement. That is often when accidents occur.

Regarding Spanish mackerel. I do not remember reading much about mackerel in Eastern Bay. Most of the reports I recall involve fast trolling in the main Ches Bay with small gold spoons or similar lures. I have never caught a Spanish in the Chesapeake, but have caught them just outside of Hatteras Inlet by casting lures and retrieving them fast.